What you think ?

Yes and no.

Yes - because it eliminates the need to hook up an iPod to the line in/aux jacks on other boxes, it goes loud, sounds pretty good if you use the right settings on both the iPod and i931, and it looks cool - to me, at least!

No - because the bass response is "hollow" (but it sounded better after I modified my i931), the controls on the box and the remote are a b!tch to operate, and it drains the hell outta batteries if you aren't careful.

I agree with monolithic about the sound. The box can get pretty loud, but the bass is just not there. I guess hollow is a good way to explain it. However if you have an ipod and you have a good music collection in digital form then I would recommend it. The ipod is very much protected inside the housing so you can carry it around without to much concern. It's a good box for the garage or the deck..it would be a great box if it had more bass.
monolithic how did you modify your's for reference? Did it improve the bass response?

Yep, mono nailed it

quote:

Originally posted by Eric:
I agree with monolithic about the sound. The box can get pretty loud, but the bass is just not there. I guess hollow is a good way to explain it. However if you have an ipod and you have a good music collection in digital form then I would recommend it. The ipod is very much protected inside the housing so you can carry it around without to much concern. It's a good box for the garage or the deck..it would be a great box if it had more bass.
monolithic how did you modify your's for reference? Did it improve the bass response?

Still, if I had to choose between a TRC-931 and an i931, I'm takin' the TRC-931! The i931 has better highs because of the new tweeters tho.

Yeah, Panasonic Fan called the bass response "hollow"... That's the most accurate term I've heard.

As for the modification, http://stereo2go.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8596027254/m/6731079945

Keep in mind that the improvement wasn't immediately noticeable, but I'd bet money on my i931 being able to knock off a stock i931 in a side by side comparison when it comes to bass!

Edit: Also had to add that Lasonic should've had a separate battery run the clock when the box isn't being used. Left unchecked, your batteries WILL BE DEAD in days - if that long! One way around that is to click the switch on the back from DC to AC.

Well, the price is certainly right on these.
I just ordered 1 for around $150 with shipping, I'll let you know what I think when I recieve It.
ty for your responses.

to me the best would be the newer kaboom with ipod hookup

The kaboom has great sound, bass that will knock your socks off literally. Highs maybe a little weak but not bad. But it has no dock. It connects to the ipod by a cable. Unless you really need the functionality of the remote you can do this with any mp3 player on nearly any box. Jvc should have made a dock where the cassette would be. Then we would have a true winner hands down. If you don't mind the looks that is. I do like the kaboom line.

Can someone link a good pic of the Lasonic i931 ?
I can't find a good one.

With apologies to my friend in the UK, I hope its OK Paul.

I would say yes. I bought one and I don't even have an ipod. I'd search for the cheapest price. I bought mine at the Big Y grocery store, they had this back to school sale and were selling the radios! I got the display one and got it a little cheaper. It's nice to experience "new radio smell" again.

quote:

Originally posted by teamstress:
It's nice to experience "new radio smell" again.

Ah, yes - that "new radio smell"... I LOVE IT!

ty for the picture, very nice.
I've noticed there are several models of this with slightly different apearance.
One has a brown stripe on top.
Does anyone have a variation ?
I ordered the black one myself.

I recieved my Lasonic i931 today.
I am quite pleased with It, Not only does it charge the Ipod & has simple controls but it's loud as hell.
I miss eq & bass & treble control but the sound is quite decent.
Nothing like new radio smell.......ahhhhhhh

quote:

Originally posted by panasonickid:
I recieved my Lasonic i931 today.
I am quite pleased with It, Not only does it charge the Ipod & has simple controls but it's loud as hell.
I miss eq & bass & treble control but the sound is quite decent.
Nothing like new radio smell.......ahhhhhhh

of course you have been 19 seconds here

Congratulations!

Sure it charges the iPod, but DO NOT leave the iPod in when you turn the i931 off if you're running on batteries!

I think the i931 is definitely worth a go if that's what you want. Here's what I think after a few weeks with one:

FOR:
It's bonkers. Lasonics are all about old skool boombox bling & by God you get your money's worth with this one.
It's new. Never underestimate that "it's still under warranty" feeling when playing a boombox (not that it's much use to me 1000's of miles away, but you get the idea).
It's useful for "todays" music. I don't know of any other boombox with this level of digital connectivity: iPods, USB SD/MMC card, ID3 onscreen disply, RDS radio, 3.5mm jack aux in.
It's loud. It makes enough noise to impress - what a boombox is all about.
It CAN be used worldwide. Get a half decent 12V dc adaptor & you're away (This one will work an i931 anywhere in Europe & beyond).
It's a proper reissue ...& reissue boomboxes are A Good Thing.

AGAINST:
Only from America. Best of luck getting one safely to you if you live in any other continent.
Missing stuff. No CD player? CDs aren't dead yet...
OK, it has no tape deck either, but we are the only ones left over 12 years old in the Western world who use tapes, & not all of us do.
Sound. It doesn't bowl you over with quality, like a top end boombox can. You can buy better sounding iPod docks (which cost more) & you can get much better sounding old boomboxes (which might cost you loads more), but it's good enough. It's a Lasonic, not a JVC/Panasonic/Aiwa - what would you expect?

quote:

Originally posted by enskanker:
With apologies to my friend in the UK, I hope its OK Paul.

no problem at all Ed, as supplier you surely have the right

Not a fan of the rounded/oval corners, but it certainly has the bling

With you on the rounded-style Reli, it's a shame the rounded motif is present on all the buttons as well, there's almost nothing with a square edge on the entire unit aside from the faux-80s grid graphics. Shame they didn't capitilise more on the traditional square look, but hey we can't have everything.

That said it is still better looking than any other portable stereo currently on the market and with all the connectivity I'd buy one in a second if they ever made it to Australia (which isn't remotley likely).

Excellent pick up Isolator42, thanks a lot for the full review.



Rock On.

quote:

Originally posted by panasonickid:
...I miss eq & bass & treble control...

Worry not, it still has these. Press the MENU button on the right repeatedly:

The EQ buttons on the left are simply presets for the bass & treble levels. None of them have the bass set to max, so I've ignored them all

Damn, I kinda like this

Mr. Radioman says....Yes, I hate to say this but after hearing isolators comments and my own recent experience with Lasonic tech service/RMA I think I will be asking Betty to get me one as a Halloween Present.

Quick Ed, send one over to agent, before he changes his mind.

...make sure you include a USB stick or SD card with the latest Keane album on it for him. I'll be a nice touch

gee it took a while to find the exceptional thread of pic's
of the inside of this Lasonic I931 or Lasonic i931

ATTENTION ALL LASONIC i931 OWNERS!!!

http://stereo2go.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8596027254/m/6731079945

I got me a i931 today!!! i must say one awesome box!!! i never really liked lasonics honestly..but this one, is a definite must have box...its like lasonic carried on the baton of the old school box into modern times...i give them big props for that...wish other companies did
the same...the box is packed with lots of features with tech in mind!! its one of the reasons it lead me to get one...its light weight and awesome sound!!! comes with adapters to fits various size ipods...a remote and a cool poster of the box...whew, what a deal!!!
ordered it and came very fast with free shipping....thumbs up!!!!

Glsd you like it, Blaster!

Be sure to use both the iPod's EQ and the i931's EQ to get the sound you want.

The ipod hasn't got an eq

yeh, just EQ presets that may well distort like crazy if you push the bass up.

The only solution to this I've found is to make the mp3 files "quieter", so that using the EQ doesn't push any of the frequencies over 100%.

quote:

Originally posted by rimmer36:
The ipod hasn't got an eq

Not in the traditional sense...

When I use my iPod with earbuds, I leave the EQ off. But when I run the iPod thru a box, the only EQ setting I use is "treble booster" to compensate somewhat for the crisp high end that a box can't naturally produce.

Seriously tho, when are electronics manufacturers gonna get the hint that ALL EQ presets suck? Isn't it more effective to let the user adjust a 3 or 5 band digital EQ than to spend money researching and developing what eventually turn out to be weak-ass EQ settings?

I couldn't more Mono thats how I feel about the Kaboom. JVC should have installed a tweeter and a graphic EQ. The Kaboom has one of the deepest bass but lacks big time on highs.

I remember when I first started seeing home amps and receivers in the 90s with these preset EQ's thinking it was such an obviously bad idea based on the variety of rooms they're listened to in and how everyone hears things differently.

It just takes too much freedom away from tuning the sound of your system to what pleases your ear. Must've been some market research that found 10 band stereo EQ's were too confusing to the average user and they just tried to remove user input from the entire process.

Ahh well, just more reason to choose vintage gear for everything if you want to get the most out of it.



Rock On.

100%!

"Hall", "concert", "stadium"...

When it comes to audio equipment, EQ presets may rank as one of the worst ideas ever forced upon consumers.

quote:

Originally posted by ford93:
I couldn't more Mono thats how I feel about the Kaboom. JVC should have installed a tweeter and a graphic EQ. The Kaboom has one of the deepest bass but lacks big time on highs.

The JVC RV-DP100 & 200 Kabooms (those with the drumpads, etc.) have independant tone controls labelled "Mid" & "Treble". However, the "Mid" control seems to alter bass rather than the midrange. So, with the superwoofer volume, it ends up with two bass controls. At least it's a step up from EQ presets.
Still no tweeters though...

Wow, we've really taken this thread off topic somewhat!

Still, I didn't know the Kaboom had no tweeters... So the drivers in the front are full-range?

Me too, however it's highly unlikely that any Lasonic models ever came to Australia.

I'd consider looking at similar Philips or Sony models.
You'd have to find someone in the US to buy one and ship it to you.

Speaking of i931's coming to Australia. I already got jipped by some bloke who probably prefers breatheing through his mouth and looks like The Comic Book Store Guy from the Simpsons via eBAY. Had to say bye bye's to $60 via Paypal and all. Yet I'm not harrowed in my actions to try and get one of these bastard things to Australia. A friend of mine has a friend in the U.S who's willing to get this box sent to his house then onto me

Amazon would be the best place price wise to purchase one of these right?

Any USB input at all?

My Philips AZ1816 has direct play from a USB device-and its not limited to iPods.

Amazon does not seem to ship electronics products to places outside the US.

the i931 does have a USB input (& SD card input too).

If buying in the USA for shipping on elsewhere, Amazon is probably a good bet. It's what UE used Amazon to get me mine


...hey, we're back on topic!

So Betty is ready to order my Christmas Present....should she or should she not....

Is it Worth it?

My alternative is the Creative Zen X-Fi

Which one boys??

I became my 931i a few weeks ago.
It was it absolutely worth (in my eyes - and ears )
It´s not real high quality, but well done.
Would buy it a second time.

quote:

Originally posted by MONOLITHIC:
Glsd you like it, Blaster!

Be sure to use both the iPod's EQ and the i931's EQ to get the sound you want.

Doesn't the docking port of the i931 plug into the data port of the Ipod?My Ikicker is set up that way.As with my docking station that should totally bypass all EQ and volume (pre amping) control on the Ipod.From my experience,I would expect this to send a direct line level signal to the i931s controls.Of course some really cheap universal docking stations source only from an mp3 players headphone jack so you have to deal with dual volume and EQ controls.Using the i931s aux jack would be a similar configuration.

quote:

Originally posted by Jovie:

quote:

Originally posted by MONOLITHIC:
Glsd you like it, Blaster!

Be sure to use both the iPod's EQ and the i931's EQ to get the sound you want.

Doesn't the docking port of the i931 plug into the data port of the Ipod?My Ikicker is set up that way.As with my docking station that should totally bypass all EQ and volume (pre amping) control on the Ipod.From my experience,I would expect this to send a direct line level signal to the i931s controls.Of course some really cheap universal docking stations source only from an mp3 players headphone jack so you have to deal with dual volume and EQ controls.Using the i931s aux jack would be a similar configuration.

When the iPod is docked in the i931, the iPod's volume doesn't work, but the iPod's EQ still does.

quote:

Originally posted by MONOLITHIC:
When the iPod is docked in the i931, the iPod's volume doesn't work, but the iPod's EQ still does.

Now that I didn't know.
I always leave the iPod's EQ switched off as it makes such a dogs dinner of so many of my mp3s.

This is because when the mp3s are made, they are made at close to 100% of the digital capability of the format. So then if you push the bass up a bit with an EQ setting such as "Loudness", then the level is pushed over 100% & distortion results.
I might re-sample all my mp3s at 80% or something to combat this, but the headphone output of an iPod is already on the quiet side.

I'll post a separate topic about that, as it's not strictly i931 related:

I keep my iPod's EQ off too, but when I connect it to a box, the only EQ setting I use is "Treble Booster" in order to get the high end I want. I don't like the other settings.

That's what i get from assuming things .I decided to mess with my Ikicker at work.Just as Monolithic said the EQ does work when using the docking port on it.Now I am going to experiment to see just how good it will sound using the players built in EQ.Actually the only Ipod EQ preset that does anything special for me is the one called "dance".It does the same thing as "treble boost" but adds an overall fullness to the sound also.It would be interesting to see what that setting would do for the sound of an i931.Perhaps I'll reconsider.I definitely need to experiment more...

Keep us posted Jovie.
I've considered getting an iKick myself, & would be very interested in the results.

I've just realised I knew the EQ settings run through the data out as well. When I first 'podded my ride (oh dear...) the sound was a bit OTT. I spent ages mucking about with the ICE parametric eq settings until I realised the iPod EQ was set to "loudness".

quote:

Originally posted by enskanker:
So Betty is ready to order my Christmas Present....should she or should she not....

Is it Worth it?

My alternative is the Creative Zen X-Fi

Which one boys??

Get the i931.
In 2 years it'll still be a talking point & useful with all that connectivity.
Just don't expect HiFi sound & you won't be disappointed.

That Zen is a bit low on capacity - only 32GB?



...So Ed, what did Betty ask Santa to get you?

Lasonic Taiwan . 220 volts Found a great guy selling them in new zealand. With free fridge magnets and mouse pads of the box to boot.... Glad to finally have one.

wow!! magnets and mouse pads...id love to get some...i love the poster it came with mine..

We bought my son the White one for his 10th Birthday and he is CRAZY about it ! I'll have to start a thread when I have some free time and he's here for pics

We are planning an LED enhancement project in the near future